Enforced delay timer for X-ray shoe fitting apparatus



July 13, 1954 H. c. NEWMAN ENFORCED DELAY TIMER FOR X-RAY SHOE FITTINGAPPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29, 1951 6,260? wwfl 5. 7ZcagnwvJuly 13, 1954 H. c. NEWMAN ENFORCED DELAY TIMER FOR X-RAY SHOE FITTINGAPPARATUS I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1951 July 13, 1954 H. c.NEWMAN 2,683,315

ENFORCED DELAY TIMER FOR X-RAY SHOE FITTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29,1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Cmumzu HIv PQlMARV Patented July 13, 1954 ENFORCEDDELAY TIMER FOR X-RAY SHOE FITTING APPARATUS Harold C. Newman, Ely,Minn. Application January 29, 1951, Serial No. 208,310

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to X-ray shoe fitting equipment orapparatus of the type now employed for permitting the prospectivepurchaser to visibly and accurately determine the position of the footwithin and the lit of the shoe, and more particularly to a novel meansand mechanism for controlling the operation of the equipment in suchmanner as to prevent damage to the foot or feet of the prospectivecustomer due to too long an exposure to the rays emanating from suchequipment.

X-ray shoe fitting equipment has been used for some years for theexpress purpose of determining the proper length and width of shoeswhereby to assure the proper fit for any size or type of foot. Suchequipment or apparatus is a development or adaptation of the X-rayfluoroscope, which permits the purchaser trying on the shoes, the shoesalesman and any other interested person such as a parent when a childis being fitted, to visually determine the spacing or positioning of thefoot within the shoe.

Originally such shoe fitting equipment was equipped with a rheostat forcontrolling the energization of the X-ray apparatus, and as no provisionwas made for limiting exposure the time of exposure depended generallyupon the shoe clerk and by the removal of the foot by the prospectivepurchaser of the shoes. Under such conditions frequently the clerk andthe prospective purchaser, and quite often some other interested memberof the family, would engage in a discussion of the merits of variousshoes which frequently resulted. in a prolonged and excessiveexamination and exposure under the X-ray apparatus.

As the shoe clerks operating these machines are in most instancesentirely untrained and frequently uninformed as to the dangers inherentin or resulting from the indiscriminate or uncontrolled use of suchapparatus, health authorities and reputable roentgenologists who fearnot only the damage apparent after excessive exposure to the rays of theapparatus, but the pathological effects which may later develop, haveproposed or insisted that regulations require the services of a trainedX-ray technician in every shoe store employing this type of equipment soas to properly control its operation, or in the alternative; to entirelyforbid its use.

The use of such equipment is regulated in many cities because of thedangers inherent in their unregulated use. It was never intended thatsuch apparatus be used in the diagnosis of foot troubles, andregulations in some cities forbid its use for that purpose. Also somcitie require that no examination be made unless the prospectivecustomer has a shoe on each foot whereby to minimize the effects of softX-ray radiation.

Primarily to eliminate damage to the transformers and tubes which werenot built to withstand the abuse of uncontrolled time periods ofoperation, manufacturers have proposed and in stalled in the apparatusrelays equipped with a thermal limiting device permitting a timedexposure of approximately 30 seconds. However, this period of exposurehas been found excessive and the permissible time of exposure has beencurtailed or limited in several of the larger cities to 5 seconds. It isnow generally conceded an exposure time of 5 seconds is ample forpurpose intended and manufacturers of such X- ray shoe fitting equipmentnow employ a timer so limiting the exposure.

However, such new timers have the very serious defect that they do notprevent the operator from effecting consecutive time exposures with outany appreciable time intervals therebetween. In other words, by pressinga button or actuating a switch the operator can initiate a 5 secondexposure, but there is nothing to prevent that operator from immediatelyand again and again pressing the button or actuating the switch forsuccessive exposures resulting in an approxi= mately continuous timecycle far in excess of that intended or permissible.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to obviate thevarious difficulties and objections to the prior and present commercialconstructions of X-ray shoe fitting equipmen or apparatus, by providingfor an enforced time delay whereby the operator cannot re-energize theX- ray equipment until after a predetermined time period has elapsed.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a noveltime-control mechanism for an X-ray shoe fitting apparatus that providesprotection against excessive exposure of the EL rays emanating from theapparatus. Because of the limitation as to the period in which thefitting must be accomplished before there is an enforced time delay,clerks are instructed to position the prospective customer with moreaccuracy and care whereby the fitting may be accomplished in the timeperiod available. Also because of this enforced time delay, theprospective customer is not willing to wait or becomes impatient andwill rarely insist on more than one fitting. Furthermore, because of theenforced time delay which is preferably for a period of 10 seconds ormore,

there is little or no danger of over-exposure resulting from acontinuous or substantially continuous exposure.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity,efiiciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such furtherobjects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear andare inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and whilethere is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understoodthat the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehendsother details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an X-ray shoe fitting apparatusequipped with the novel enforced time delay, the view showing the frontportion including the platform on which the person stands when the shoesare being fitted.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper rear portion ofthe cabinet and showing the various controls and viewing openings or eyescopes.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in perspective of the novel enforced timedelay switch mechanism, the wires connecting the various contacts havingbeen omitted.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the motor driven shaft with the camscarried thereon for controlling the operation of the enforced timer.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a wiring diagram of the enforced timedelay mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings and to thenovel illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is shown acommercial type of an X-ray shoe fitting apparatus comprising a cabinetIt having a platform it upon which the prospective customer stands.Adjacent to and rearwardly of this platform is provided a recess ii inwhich the customer inserts one or both feet to visually determine theoutline of the feet, the spacing between the feet and the interior ofthe shoes and the conformation of the shoes with respect to the feet.

At the top of the apparatus is provided a ledge I3 having an elevatedviewer IQ for the customer and adjacent thereto provided with two spacedviewers i5 and it, one for the salesman and one for an interestedobserver or member of the customers family, such as a parent where achild is being fitted. These viewers i4, i5 and it are so spaced apartthat each observer can fully view one or both feet of the prospectivecustomer. A suitable switching mechanism is provided by which thesalesman controls the operation of the X-ray equipment, but suchoperation is generally limited to a prescribed time period; The aboveequipment is standard in prior devices but in none is there anyprovision for preventing the danger inherent in immediate recycling andreexposure forsimilar periods.

The present novel invention comprehends a novel enforced timer or timingmechanism formed as a replacement for the timing unit with which thecommercial apparatus is generally equipped. The original timing unit asabove described, is removed and the present enforced timer is mounted inits place within the cabinet if). It includes a face plate ll havingthree push button controls numbered 18, l8 and I8 for initiating andcontrolling three degrees of penetration, namely, a deeper penetrationfor men and a progressively less penetration for women and children. Italso includes a plug-type control switch l9 which must be inserted toengage and close the contacts at 29 to energize the circuit through thenovel attachment. This plug switch provides a safety device preventinguse of the apparatus by an unauthorized person, and especially children.By reason of its predetermined shape which controls the energization ofthe X-ray equipment, a pencil or other object cannot be inserted andemployed to close the circuit therethrough.

Upon insertion of the plug switch E9, the shoe fitting apparatus orequipment is ready for energization and operation of the transformer andthe X-ray equipment with which such apparatus is initially equipped. Tolimit the period of time in which the rays emanate, the presentinvention employs the push buttons 18, 18 and ta each associated with aseries of aligned pairs of contacts 2i22, 232d, 2525 and 21-28 adaptedto be bridged or connected by suitable contactors 29. Contacts 25'Zficontrol the primary transformer circuit and contacts 21-23 control themotor circuit.

Contacts 2 i22 and 23-24 are normally closed, while contacts 25-48 and2'i-28 are normally open. Actuating or depressing any one of the pushbuttons [8, 18 or fis will open its contacts 2i-22 and 23--2fl and closeits contacts 25-25 and 21- 28. Furthermore, contacts 2l-22 and 2324 ofeach push-button switch are so wired or disposed in the circuitarrangement with rela tion to the contacts 25-26 that holding two orthree of the push button switches 18, it and 58* down simultaneouslymakes the circuit through these contacts inoperative. Also if one ofthese push buttons is depressed and the device is operating, depressingeither or both of the other push buttons renders the high voltagecircuit inoperable. The push button selected by varying the primary loadthrough a tapped resistor 3!, gives different degrees of penetration formen, women and children.

A timing motor 32 of the synchronous type rotates a drive shaft 33journalled in spaced brackets 3!; and 35 and carrying spaced cams BE,3?, 3t and 39. These cams each engage and actuate a spring-biased orleaf type contactor cc electrically connected toa terminal connectionblock :3! containing a series of terminals referred to generally by thereference numeral d2. Cam 3% controls the synchronous motor 32 which isso constructed as to rotate at 4 R. P. M. and the cam is so contouredand arranged that the motor will complete its normal cycle once it hasstarted regardless of whether or not the depressed push button 58, [8 orla is held down or the plug switch i9 is withdrawn. Release of theselected push button at any time during operation of the transformerwill open the primary through the contacts 2528 and the high voltageenergy ceases.

Cam 3! controls the filament transformer primary where the filamenttransformer is separate from the high voltage transformer. Thistransformer lights the filament of an X-ray tube housed within thecabinet Hi. In those installations where both transformers are'combinedor contained in the same unit and have primaries which are part of thesame winding, these contacts controlled by the cam 3'! are not employed,

as in the case in the illustrative embodiment in Fig. 3.

Cam 38 controls the primary to the high voltage transformer whichdelivers the required energy to the X-ray tube through a resistor 43 toprevent surging.

Cam 39 controls the primary to the high voltage transformer shorting outor shunting the resistor 42% a fraction of a second after contact ismade by the cam 38 thereby permitting full primary voltage, and breaks afraction of a second before contact is broken by the cam 38 and puttingthe resistor 43 into the primary circuit momentarily to prevent surging.This permits a maximum period of five seconds of X-ray radiation. Forthe remaining ten seconds of the fifteen second cycle of the motor oruntil the motor recycles, it is impossible to make any further exposure.

By means of the present novel enforced delay timer unit or attachmentfor an X-ray shoe fitting apparatus, a predetermined period of exposureis permitted and a further exposure dur ing each cycle is prevented.With the plug switch 59 closed, the depressing of any one of the pushbuttons [8, [8 or [8 permits normal use of the apparatus for aprescribed period; for example, five seconds. Depressing another ofthese push buttons cuts the exposure of the X- rays but yet permits themotor to continue through its complete and normal cycle and to return toits initial or starting position ready for further operation. Thus thereis definite, enforced time delay before any further X-ray penetration ispermitted. Pushing or depressing a control or push button aftercompletion of an exposure and before the motor has completed its fullcycle will not permit further exposure, but there is an enforced timedelay between each and every exposure.

In the preferred embodiment, each rotation of the motor driven shaftcarrying the cams 36, 3?, 38 and 3a through one revolution, requires aperiod of approximately fifteen seconds, and the maximum period ofexposure permitted in that cycle being limited to approximately fiveseconds. For the remaining ten seconds or until the motor recycles and apush button is again depressed, it is impossible to make any furtherexposure.

From the above description and the disclosed illustrative embodiment inthe drawings, it will be apparent that the present invention comprehendsthe provision of a novel enforced delay timer which automatically limitsthe period of exposure in X-ray shoe fitting apparatus. This noveltiming mechanism very definitely discourages any over exposure as thecustomer impatient at an enforced time delay will rarely insist on morethan one five second period of exposure, although two or threesucceeding periods of exposure with the time delay intervening isusually considered insufficient exposure to cause any harm.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. An enforced delay timer for X-ray shoe fitting apparatus having meansfor directing rays to said apparatus, comprising a unit having aplurality of push button switches for initiating and controlling thedegree of penetration of the rays, plug switch for closing the circuitto the .-ray apparatus, a motor having a drive shaft, spaced cams onsaid shaft and rotatable therewith, and cam-actuated contacts controlledby the operation of the motor and rotation of the drive shaft forcontrolling the period of exposure by opening the circuit to the raydirecting means upon a partial rotation of the shaft and maintainingsaid means inoperative for a predetermined period after each exposure.

2. An enforced delay timer for X-ray shoe fitting apparatus having ahigh voltage transformer, comprising an attachment connected to theprimary circuit of the transformer and including a motor having a driveshaft, means on said shaft and rotatable therewith for controlling theperiod of exposure by opening the primary circuit upon the expiration ofa predetermined time period, and means on said shaft for positivelymaintaining the primary circuit open until a predetermined, enforceddelay period has expired.

3. In X-ray shoe fitting apparatus, an enforced delay timer thereforcomprising a motor having a shaft operable through one revolution eachtime the motor is operated and a timing unit including spaced cams onsaid shaft and rotatable therewith for automatically limiting the periodof exposure of said apparatus to a predetermined arc of travel of theshaft and rendering and maintaining said apparatus inoperative forfurther exposure until a predetermined time period has elapsedsubsequent to said period of exposure.

4. An enforced delay timer for controlling the period of exposure ofX-rays in the operation of a shoe fitting apparatus and automaticallypreventing a succeeding exposure until a predetermined period of timehas elapsed, comprising means for initiating the exposure, a motorhaving a shaft operable through one revolution each time the motor isoperated, and cam-actuated means on the shaft for controlling the periodof exposure to a predetermined arc of movement of the shaft andpreventing subsequent exposure upon expiration of said period until theshaft completes its revolution during which a subsequent predeterminedperiod of time has elapsed.

5. An enforced timer for an X-ray shoe fitting apparatus, comprisingmeans including a motor having a shaft operable through one revolutioneach time the apparatus is operated for controlling the period of X-rayemanation, and means on said shaft for automatically terminating saidemanation and maintaining it terminated for an enforced time period.

6. An enforced delay timer for controlling the period of exposure ofX-rays in the operation of a shoe fitting apparatus and automaticallypreventing a succeeding exposure until a predetermined period of timehas elapsed, comprising a motor having a drive shaft rotatable throughbut one revolution for each operation of the apparatus,manually-actuated means for initiating operation of the motor and theperiod of exposure, and cam-actuated means on said shaft for controllingthe period of exposure and maintaining said manually-actuated meansineffective to again initiate the period of exposure until the shaftcompletes its revolution and an enforced time delay has elapsed.

7. In an X-ray shoe fitting apparatus having mechanism for directingX-rays to said apparatus, an enforced delay timer for controlling theperiod of exposure of the X-rays in the operation of said shoe fittingapparatus and automatically preventing a succeeding exposure until apredetermined period of time has elapsed after the initial exposure,comprising a motor adapted to operate in a predetermined cycle andprovided with a drive shaft rotated through but one revoprevent exposurefor the remainder of such revolution.

References Gited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,901,526 Mutscheller Mar. 14, 1933 2,297,042 Weyenberg Sept.29, 1942 2,315,149 Bliss Mar. 30, 1943 2,382,972 Brune et a1 Aug. 2 19452,607,414 Morrison Aug. 19, 1952

